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Rhode Island HOA Rules for Board Members (2026)

New to a Rhode Island HOA or condo board? Before you send a violation letter or set a fine, it helps to know what the law actually says. Here are the Rhode Island rules in plain words, each with its statute section and a link to the official text.

Rhode Island condominium associations under the Condominium Law (ch. 34-36.1) and homeowners associations, which run on their governing documents (plus the Nonprofit Corporation Act if incorporated). Rhode Island sets no violation-notice, cure or hearing periods: those steps come from your declaration, bylaws, rules and enforcement policy. Kindly Board walks a fair, documented process and shows the state rules that do apply, including the condominium fine caps. Where a step comes from your documents, it says so.

The short version: Rhode Island law sets no periods for these steps, so Kindly Board uses the dates from your notice (your documents set them). If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Rhode Island attorney.

Updated October 2026. Not legal advice.

Which Rhode Island law applies

  • Rhode Island has no homeowners-association or planned-community statute. For a condominium, the Condominium Law lets the board fine after notice and the opportunity for a hearing and caps the amounts, but no Rhode Island statute sets violation-notice contents, a delivery method, a cure period, a hearing-request deadline or a hearing-notice period for HOAs or condominiums. Those steps come from your declaration, bylaws, rules and enforcement policy.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20; ch. 7-6 (no procedure set)

  • The Condominium Law applies to condominiums created after July 1, 1982; an older condominium may adopt it by a recorded written agreement of the association and all unit owners. For condominiums created before July 1, 1982 that haven't, listed sections (including the fine power in §3.02(a)(11), the fine rules in §3.20, meetings in §3.08, the lien in §3.16 and records in §3.18) still apply to events after July 1, 1982 without invalidating existing documents; otherwise the older Condominium Ownership Act (ch. 34-36) applies.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-1.02

  • A Rhode Island HOA that is not a condominium runs on its governing documents (plus the Nonprofit Corporation Act, ch. 7-6, if incorporated). No Rhode Island statute gives such an HOA the power to fine, caps its fines or gives it a lien; that depends on the declaration. A 2026 bill to create an HOA law (H 8273 / S 3094) died in committee.

    R.I. Gen. Laws Title 34 (no HOA statute); ch. 7-6

  • A condominium association may levy reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules after notice and an opportunity to be heard. The executive board may impose and assess fines, including daily fines for continued violative conduct; notice and the opportunity for a hearing must be provided before a fine is imposed. All fines are a lien on the unit.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.02(a)(11); §34-36.1-3.20(a)

How Rhode Island counts days

  • Rhode Island's general rule: when time is reckoned from a day, date or act, that day is not included. The statute says nothing about the last day or about weekends and holidays, and no Rhode Island statute sets periods for a violation. Kindly Board counts calendar days where your documents give a number. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Rhode Island attorney.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §43-3-13

Violation notices and the chance to fix in Rhode Island

Hearings in Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island law sets no separate path for a one-time violation. A condominium fine still needs notice and the opportunity for a hearing first; for an HOA, follow your documents. Notice and a chance to be heard before any fine is the fair course.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(a)

  • Rhode Island law sets no hearing-request deadline and no hearing-notice period. A condominium fine needs notice and the opportunity for a hearing first (before the board or its designee); for an HOA your bylaws and enforcement policy control. At least 10 days' notice of a hearing is common practice, not a Rhode Island rule.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(a), (e)

  • Condominium fine hearings are before the executive board or a person the board designates. The decision must include costs in all cases, and reasonable attorney's fees if the prevailing party is represented by a member of the Rhode Island Bar; those fees and costs are also a lien on the unit.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(e), (f)

Fines in Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island law doesn't sort violations into types. Your documents decide whether an ongoing violation gets a period to fix it, and how long. A condominium may use daily fines for a continuing violation, within the $100-a-day residential cap.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(a), (b)

  • For an HOA that is not a condominium, Rhode Island sets no fining power and no cap: a board may fine only if its declaration, bylaws or rules give it that power, in the amount and way they allow. For a condominium, the statutory caps apply (see the fine step).

    R.I. Gen. Laws Title 34 (no HOA fine rule); §34-36.1-3.20 (condominiums)

  • Condominium fine caps: daily fines no more than $100 a day for residential condominiums ($500 a day commercial); fines other than daily fines no more than $500 residential ($1,000 commercial). The statute adds that a declaration, bylaw, rule or regulation that purports to set a maximum fine or daily fine is invalid; what that means for documents with their own cap is unclear. Keep every fine within the statutory caps, and ask a Rhode Island attorney if your documents state their own maximum.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(b)-(d)

Assessments, late fees and liens in Rhode Island

  • A condominium association has a lien for assessments and fines from the time they become due. Fines, late charges, interest and special assessments are not in the six-month priority over a first mortgage. The lien is extinguished unless enforcement starts within six years after the full amount becomes due. Talk to a Rhode Island attorney before any lien or lawsuit.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.16(a), (b), (e)

  • Rhode Island has no lien statute for HOAs that are not condominiums. Any lien or collection right comes from the recorded declaration; talk to a Rhode Island attorney before any lien or lawsuit.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.16 (condominiums only)

Meetings and votes in Rhode Island

  • Condominium board and owners' meetings may be held fully or partly by phone or video if everyone can communicate at the same time; the notice must name the platform and give all unit owners the access information. No Rhode Island statute found opens an in-person board meeting or hearing to owners; whether owners may attend is unclear and your bylaws decide.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.08(c)

  • Condominium quorum (condominiums under the full Act): 20% of the votes for owners' meetings unless the bylaws provide otherwise; 50% of the board's votes for board meetings unless the bylaws set a larger percentage.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.09

Records in Rhode Island

  • Condominium financial and other records must be made reasonably available for examination within 30 days of a request by any unit owner or the owner's authorized agent.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.18

  • Incorporated associations (Nonprofit Corporation Act): any member, or the member's agent or attorney, may inspect all books and records for any proper purpose at any reasonable time; the Act sets no response deadline.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §7-6-30

Other rules boards should know

  • Since June 17, 2024, condominium bylaws and rules referenced in the declaration or bylaws, and their amendments, must be recorded in the municipal land evidence records (later-recorded ones certified by two board members unless the documents require more). The statute doesn't say what happens to a rule that isn't recorded; ask a Rhode Island attorney before enforcing an unrecorded rule.

    R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.06(c), (d)

Step by step: a Rhode Island violation case

The order Kindly Board walks a Rhode Island board through, from the first look to the last letter.

  1. Check before you start Every case
    Find the rule, and the steps your own documents require.
  2. Courtesy reminder Optional
    A friendly first note before any formal notice.
  3. Formal notice of violation Before any fine (per your documents)
    The rule, the facts, the fix-by date and how to be heard, in the form your documents require.
  4. Hearing (if the owner asks, or your documents require one) Per your documents
    A fair chance to be heard before the Board decides.
  5. Board vote on the fine Before a fine
    Only if your documents allow fines, at a proper board meeting.
  6. Notice of fine After the vote
    Amount, due date, how to pay, and the rule behind it.
  7. Close the case Every case
    Record how it ended and keep the file.

Rhode Island HOA rules: FAQ

What HOA law applies in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island condominium associations under the Condominium Law (ch. 34-36.1) and homeowners associations, which run on their governing documents (plus the Nonprofit Corporation Act if incorporated). Rhode Island sets no violation-notice, cure or hearing periods: those steps come from your declaration, bylaws, rules and enforcement policy. Kindly Board walks a fair, documented process and shows the state rules that do apply, including the condominium fine caps. Where a step comes from your documents, it says so. The main sources: Your documents, plus the Condominium Law (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-36.1) and ch. 7-6 for incorporated associations.

How are days counted for Rhode Island HOA deadlines?

Rhode Island law sets no periods for these steps, so Kindly Board uses the dates from your notice (your documents set them). If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Rhode Island attorney.

What does Rhode Island law say about HOA fines?

Rhode Island law doesn't sort violations into types. Your documents decide whether an ongoing violation gets a period to fix it, and how long. A condominium may use daily fines for a continuing violation, within the $100-a-day residential cap. (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(a), (b))

What does Rhode Island law say about violation hearings?

Rhode Island law sets no separate path for a one-time violation. A condominium fine still needs notice and the opportunity for a hearing first; for an HOA, follow your documents. Notice and a chance to be heard before any fine is the fair course. (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.20(a))

Can Rhode Island owners see the association's records?

Condominium financial and other records must be made reasonably available for examination within 30 days of a request by any unit owner or the owner's authorized agent. (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-36.1-3.18)

Official text

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